Lakeland City Hall Destroyed

A fire has destroyed a city hall under construction, just east of the Twin Cities, a building project that has divided the public’s opinion.

Washington County Sheriff’s officials say firefighters were called to the constrction site around 11:30 p.m., Sunday, and found the partially-completed structure fully engulfed.

The new city hall had been debated in the community of about 1,800, for more than a year before the City Council decided to go ahead with construction.

The project was also an issue in the mayoral race. Mayor-elect, Richard Glasgow, wanted to preserve the historic city hall while his opponent, incumbent Amy Williams favored the new construction.

Investigators now believe that the fire was intentionally set. The Minnesota Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

The Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department is currently investigating the cause of the fire.